The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-26
The National Dril8 8opened.

WASHINGTON, May 33.-The open.
ing formalities Of the National Drill
took place at noon today. and were
very brief and simple; A corps Of
policemen cleared space about the
flag staff, in fr,nt ofthez camp bead
quartcrs~:ut the monument lot. The
Washington Light -IIafantry corps of
this District; headed hysthe Sd (regu.
lar) artillery band, marched in and
formed hollow square. Gen. Augur
and staff entered the square, and
stood with uncovered heads, while
the chaplin invoked Gods blessing
upon the camp, officers and ssldlers,
people and Government OF the
United States. A magnifcent\new
garrison flag was now drawn to the
masthead, and as it was unfolded &C.
the breeze the band saluted it with
the Star Spangled Banner The
troops presented arms, and the SUI
rounding crowds enthusiastically
cheered. The National Drill vas
thus formally opened. Three geaer-
al orders, which had been printed,
were then promulgated.
FIRST DAY OF TIE CoMPETITI0N--.
$500 MEN IN CAMP.
AsII!NGToN, May 24.-The COM
petitive drill began at 10 o'clock this
morning. Company A, lst Minnesota
regiment. was the first company 10
enter. They drilled well. The sec.
ond company was the 8th, separate
company, of Rochester, n. Y These
two companies drilled in the south
of the grounds. too far from the grand
stand to be seen to advantage.
Next followed the Muscatine Rifles
of Iowa. They marched to the front
Of the grand stand, saluted the judges
and began to drill. They handled
their pieces we'll, but were,a little
weak in foot movements. They were
literally applauded. Then followed
the Grand Rapids Guards, Company
A, 1st battalion Virginia (colored J
Vicksburg Volunteers, and Company
A. lst Virginia regiment.
Popular demonstrations indicated
that the Vicksburg men and Company
A Of the 1st Virginia regiment had
won the greatest favor Of the day.
Competing companies were limited
in numbers to twenty-four men each
with their three officers and two
guides. The programme Of maneu.
vres was delivered to each company
commander one hour before :he time
allotted for the appearance of the
corps, and the men were thereby kept
in ignorance of the manguvres they
were to execute until orders were
actually gwen. In general terms
they were to exercise first in the
school Of the soldier, (tLat is without
arms tiien in the manual at arms,
and lastly in tile school Of the COM
pany. Thirty minutes was allotted
to each company to complete its pro-
gramme.
A furious thunder storm and wind
storm came up about 4 o'clock and
put an end to the proceedings Tive
crowds scattered at once: Xfe roof
was blown off large |art OF the
grand stand, and tke canvas rocks,
forts and war ysssels, and lighthouse
OF the "pyoSama' were tipped over
and se2ftered. The order for dress
parade at 5 o'clock was rescinded.
For the purpose of dress parade the
commands have been organized into
provisional battalions, in which tue
troops Of the respective sections Of
the country are grouped together as
| far as possible. Kentucky, Ohio
and the District of Colambia men
each form one battalion. Texas.
Mississippi, Louisiana and Missouri
form one, The Governors Guard
of North Carolina. are with Michigan
and Minnesota men. Virginia troops
constitute separate brigade, already
completely organized, under Gen, c.
J. Anderson. The total number OF
men in camp is about $500, in sew
enty organizations. One.third of the
total are Virginians. Thirty foul
commands have entered the competi'
tion for infantry prizes, one of which
is colored. Four colored companies
are in camp two from Virginia and
two from the District of Columbia.